Planning Board chairman says other boards right in not allowing discussion of bylaw

By Peggy Aulisio

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southcoasttoday.com

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Posted Feb. 7, 2013 at 1:52 PM

Posted Feb. 7, 2013 at 1:52 PM

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By Peggy Aulisio

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FAIRHAVEN — Planning Board Chairman Wayne Hayward said Monday that the Board of Health and selectmen were right not to allow public comment on the Planning Board's wind turbine bylaw.

"They shouldn't have had it on their agendas," he said.

He compared it with having tobacco regulations put forth by the Board of Health as an item for discussion on the Planning Board's agenda.

Mr. Hayward said as far as turbines, the Board of Health is involved with noise levels and health impacts, not height and setbacks.

He said as he understood it, Selectman Robert Espindola asked to be on the Board of Health agenda, to answer his questions, but then the meeting took place the same time as the selectmen's meeting so Mr. Espindola couldn't attend.

Mr. Hayward said that once an issue involving the wind turbines is on any board's agenda, people will turn up and try to talk about turbine issues that aren't under that board's jurisdiction.

He said the selectmen may have had it on their agenda because of a 14-day review period that is a local mandate giving selectmen two weeks to comment on proposed bylaw changes, although it is not required by state law. He said the selectmen may have it on their agenda as a technical requirement, not for public comment.